Braves lefty Minor has shoulder pain again
Braves starting pitcher Mike Minor had a setback in his rehabilitation when he again experienced pain in his left shoulder while throwing off the mound.
Minor was shut down for two weeks during spring training because of shoulder inflammation and has been rehabilitating at Braves camp in Florida. Braves vice president John Hart said Sunday that Minor returned to Atlanta to be examined by the team’s medical staff and will return to Florida to continue with a scaled-back rehab program.
“He was at the point where he was just getting on the mound (and) I think that’s where he began to feel just a little bit of discomfort,” Hart said Sunday. “Rather than continue, we wanted to bring him back up and have it looked at. We are sending him back and we will continue to manage it. We wanted to make sure there was nothing suspicious going on. There obviously is some level of concern because the discomfort came back.”
Hart said tests revealed less inflammation in Minor’s shoulder than when he was initially shut down. Minor had progressed from short throws on flat ground, to long toss, to throwing from the mound. He remains on the 15-day disabled list.
Minor also was shut down with shoulder issues during 2014 spring training and didn’t make his first start until May 2. He went on to post career-worst numbers in ERA (4.77) and walks and hits per inning pitched (1.44) for a full season. Minor did not make his final scheduled start of the 2014 season because of shoulder pain.
Minor didn’t complete his full winter program before the 2014 season because of a medical procedure on his urinary tract in December 2013. He had hoped following his usual off season program would mean a healthy start to this year but so far the results have been similar.
Hart said Minor will see how he progresses over the next week to 10 days before he and the Braves decide the next step. Hart said surgery isn’t an option for now.
“Obviously that’s something that could happen,” Hart said. “That’s something obviously Mike wants to avoid. I think that’s one reason we wanted to bring him up was to examine all of the alternatives, all of the options. He wants to get back. He’s down there grinding it out.
“I don’t think there is any question he wants to come back without doing anything where you have to go in there and scope it. We are not there yet by any stretch of the imagination. If this thing continues, that is certainly an option.”
Minor’s healthy return would bolster the Braves’ starting rotation. He was among their most effective starters in 2013 when he was 13-9 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 204 2/3 innings.
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